Van Der Watt Review of Holladay

7/31/2019 Van Der Watt Review of Holladay

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This review was published by RBL 2006 by the Society of Biblical Literature. For more information on obtaining a

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RBL 07/2006

Holladay, Carl R.

A Critical Introduction to the New Testament:

Interpreting the Message and Meaning of Jesus Christ

Nashville: Abingdon, 2005. Pp. xxii + 609 [expanded

CD-ROM version included]. Hardcover. $49.00. ISBN

0687085691.

Jan G. van der Watt

University of Pretoria

Pretoria, South Africa 0043

Several noteworthy introductions to the New Testament have appeared recently, each one

aiming at introducing the reader to the books of the New Testament on different levels.

Although the different introductions deal with the same basic material, each one has itsown unique characteristics. This is also true of Holladays critical introduction.

Scanning the book for the first time left the impression that much thought has gone into

both the content and the presentation of the material. The first unique feature that

immediately catches the eye is the expanded CD version that comes with the book.

Holladay distinguishes between the Standard Version (the printed text) and the

Expanded CD Version. These should be used in tandem. Where there is expanded

material available on the CD, it is clearly indicated in bold letters in the Standard Version.

The CD not only contains the full text but adds the additional material on the pages

indicated in the Standard Version. More technical material, such as primary references,more detailed discussions and debates, additional diagrams and illustrations, are available

on the CD. Detailed annotations and footnotes on the CD also enrich the available

material. In his own words, Holladay remarks that adding a CD represents the changing

face of academic publishing and represents a bold editorial move by Abingdon (5). Of

course, this is not the first time this concept has been used, especially not in works of a


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more popular nature. The drawback is that one does not always have a computer at hand

to run the CD when reading the book. It is thus a matter of convenience. However, those

who are interested in the additional material will take the trouble to consult the CD. Atleast one has the material available if it is needed. Fortunately, Abingdon and Holladay

made sure that the CD is user-friendly, the result being that all of the material on it is

easily accessible. There are various ways of finding the material on the CD, and the

software interface runs effectively and quickly. It is even possible to copy text from the

CD to a word processor. History will show whether this approach of enriching a printed

version with technology (who knows what the future might hold) is viable and

sustainable. I believe historys judgment will be positive, which means that the shelf life of

Holladays work will be significantly increased if he (or his students) continue to update

the material on the CD. The cost of changing CDs is significantly lower than publishing

new editions, not to mention the technical ease with which it can be done. I therefore

regard this effort as successful and expect it to be copied by others, especially in works

offering an overview of large bodies of material.

Holladays aim with this book is to introduce multiple audiences to the writings of the

New Testament, including readers with little or no previous knowledge of these writings.

It should, however, also appeal to more advanced readers without boring them with

generally known information. This is, of course, a challenging endeavor and requires a

delicate balancing act. Enough substantial information should be offered to help the

novice to build a proper and sound frame of reference and simultaneously to broaden and

enrich the existing frames of reference of the more experienced reader. Holladay uses his

thorough and long experience as university lecturer to address this problem. He embedsthe content of the different books of the New Testament in the existing critical

discussions about those books. That is why the title of the book includes the words

Critical Introduction. The word critical refers to a reflective discussion of the

interpretative issues related to the different dimensions of the text of the New Testament.

Part of this presentation is also a thorough engagement with the reception history of these

books through the centuries. How this material is presented is, of course, important. It

should not create the impression that it is an elementary popular book so that the

already initiated become disinterested and do not want to read further; it should also

not have such a high academic feeling that first readers are scared away. An

important question is therefore whether this book succeeded in keeping this delicatebalance.

The answer is positive; in fact, this seems to be one of the strengths of this introduction.

There are several reasons why I believe this to be so. The language and level of discussion

is not overwhelming. It is reader-friendly, and one is not bombarded with theological

jargon. Even more important, the flow of ideas is clear and crisp. Every theologian knows


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that each issue of the New Testament can be problematized to the level of a dissertation.

The challenge is to extract the essence in each case without falling into the trap of

oversimplifying matters. The student must be given a solid and trustworthy framework ofinformation that would facilitate and help to integrate further reading.

I read Holladays introduction in this light and was impressed by his ability to present

material in a digestible way without being too simplistic or elementary. In general, I

would say that the information in this introduction is representative of current debates

and views on the subject (with a few exceptions). The concept of expanding the material

on a CD-ROM, of course, helps to accommodate the more informed reader.

The clear, systematic presentation of the material, enriched with diagrams, adds to the

positive reading experience and will benefit the reader in absorbing and retaining the

information. Overall I am of the opinion that this insightful work benefits fromHolladays understanding of the needs and expectations of students of the New

Testament gained through years spent as a lecturer in the subject.

The book is presented in seven parts, each part consisting of individual chapters. The

presentation of material broadly follows the canonical sequence of the books of the New

Testament, with some issues discussed at the beginning and conclusion of the book.

Part 1 (Theology and Scripture) deals with the New Testament as theological writings

and with some canonical issues related to the New Testament. There is a reflection on the

nature of theology, and the process of doing theology is consequently seen as the means

though which the content of ones faith is formulated. This process includes a diversity of

elements, including engaging with ancient authoritative texts and traditions and

recognizing the distinctive roles of interpreters (as groups or individuals). Doing theology

is aimed at making sense of, and giving formal expression to, how God is at work in

Christ and how this should be understood and experienced in a specific context (19).

Holladay thus outlines the theoretical framework within which he presents his material in

the rest of the book. The material of the New Testament is not only history that must be

described as past events. Of course, it is also that and must be understood within its

proper historical, social, and literary contexts. However, these texts are also read and

interpreted, not only by the first readers, but subsequently by many generations of

scholars and otherwise involved readers. This interest in the history of reception of theNew Testament becomes apparent in the discussions of the way in which the relevant

material was treated throughout history. The content of the New Testament and the

process of interpreting these texts are linked, not only as a punctuating event but also as a

continuing process. Holladay also points out that the figure of Jesus is the primary

catalyst for early Christian theological reflection and should therefore be taken seriously


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in doing theology. The events surrounding Jesus (including his ministry, sudden and

unexpected death, and living presence afterwards with his followers) triggered and

determined the nature, content, and intensity of subsequent theological discussion andreflection. The essence of Christian theological reflection remains the interpretation of

what God has done in Christ.

Obviously, the writings of the New Testament are not studied out of curiosity but because

they have canonical status for Christians. Some texts are thus defined as more important

than others and form an authoritative basis for formulating Christian tradition. Holladay

gives a historical overview of the process of canonization and positions his material

within this framework, giving special attention to the general arrangement of the different

books of the New Testament.

Parts 26 systematically deal with the writings of the New Testament more or less incanonical order (the order of Pauls letters are a bit different from their order in the

Bible). The basic pattern of the different chapters is the same, obviously taking the

differences in nature of the writings into account. Discussing the Gospels (part 2)

includes chapters on relating the Gospels to each other and to Jesus. In the part on Paul,

the question of reading the Pauline letters is addressed. Pauls letters are positioned

within the framework of ancient letters, and the structure and chronology of these letters

are discussed.

The treatment of the different books of the New Testament should be especially noted.

The older atomic approach of first dealing with introductory questions, followed byexegesis and discussions of some critical problems, continuing to the theology of that

particular book, is long gone. The circular interrelatedness of all these issues is now

acknowledged. Holladays book is a very good example of how the different issues related

to interpreting the New Testament are interwoven. Strong emphasis falls on the content

of each book. This forms the core of each discussion. I regard this as a strong point of this

introduction. The book is not intended to replace the text of the New Testament. Rather,

a reading of the primary texts will be complemented by the material presented in this

book. The arguments are not developed from specific set of hypotheses or theories but are

essentially developed from material flowing from the text of the New Testament itself.

The reader is constantly reminded of the primary sources behind the discussions and is

forced back to these primary sources. This results in an introduction into the New

Testament as document and not into secondary theories about the New Testament; the

latter is not neglected, but it does not dominate. The content is not discussed in a vacuum

or in an ahistorical and abstract way. It is embedded into the sociohistorical and literary

framework pertinent to that particular book. Disputed or unresolved issues in debates

about a particular book are given due attention, although not in tiresome detail. In this


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way introductory or related critical issues, exegesis, and theology merge well. The

reader is left with a more holistic and much more digestible picture of each book. The

various elements make sense in relation to and in light of one another. This illustrates tothe reader how the dating of a book interrelates to the view of who the author could have

been and how the historical, theological, ethical, or social material in the books could be

interpreted or how ones view about the issues in the text itself can guide one in

determining the date or possible authorship. By interrelating these different aspects, a

more coherent picture of what is going on in a particular book of the New Testament

emerges.

Obviously, there are some critical elements one should be aware of. The articles do bear

clear evidence of Holladays preferences, but this also contributes to the unique nature of

the book. He does not approach the material in a stereotypical manner but rather takes

his own avenues into the discussions, based on the content or message of each book. Howthis relates to the religious convictions of the author and original readers is considered.

This means that different present-day readers might react differently, feeling that this or

that should have received more emphasis or should have been more prominent or that

other material received too much attention. This is natural, and the advantage lies therein

that this book will stimulate further discussions. The book does not give the impression of

giving final solutions, although the chapters are written in a positive and affirmative style.

It is not as if Holladay is a floating theologian who does not know what his views are.

Another important issue is, of course, the bibliographies and indexes. There is a very

useful index at the back of the printed edition, and search possibilities on the CD are alsoavailable. As far as the bibliography is concerned, the question is whether the novice is

referred to books that will help him or her to effectively build up a solid working

knowledge of that particular book or only guided in a specific direction. Is the reader

referred to standard works in that particular field? The criterion here is not how many

books are mentioned but rather which books are mentioned. One can continue ad

infinitum adding more and more titles. The secret to success is adding the correct titles.

Here I also feel that Holladay did a good job. Here and there I missed a book that I would

regard as standard, but, as I said, drawing the boundaries of what to include and what not

to include is not easy. I do, however, have one point of criticism. There is too little

mention of books outside of the English circle. There are some references to works inother languages, but then only to translations. I do have sympathy with the fact that the

intended readership would most probably not have language skills in German or French

and that mentioning these works would just seem like window dressing. On the other

hand, I think the impression should not be created that scholarship can do without these

works. This would be a major mistake.


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In conclusion, what is my overall impression? I will definitely add this book to the list of

prescribed books for my students and will encourage them to use the CD. I think

Holladay has done teachers and prospective students of the New Testament a big favor inmaking such a well written, clearly planned, and thorough but not overwhelming

introduction available.

Documents

Van Der Watt Review of Holladay